CPM veteran Jyoti Basu, who remained West Bengal Chief Minister for a record period of 23 years and almost became Prime Minister in 1996, has passed away today after prolonged illness at AMRI Hospitals.

Informing the death of CPM patriarch, Biman Bose, the Chairman of the Left Front Coordination Committee told in emotional tone, "I have to give you sad news that Jyoti Basu is no longer with us."

He had been battling with life for past few months and all his organs stopped working yesterday leading to his demise at 95.

Basu was visited by Siddhartha Shankar Ray, Prakash and Brinda Karat, Somnath Chatterjee and Amitabh Bachchan on Saturday evening at AMRI Hospitals, Salt Lake.

Born in July 8 1914 in Kolkata, Basu did his schooling from Loreto and St. Xavier's and completed honours in English from the Presidency College of Kolkata. Then he moved to London for studying law and joined communist movement under the influence of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). He also actively participated in the India League and the Federation of Indian Students in Great Britain.